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Post by mehewmagic on Jun 10, 2014 0:31:19 GMT
Sorry to any people who already know about my project... But I've got to inform people again now we've moved. I know we've been relegated and now isn't a very good time for us... BUT life as a Gashead hasn’t always been grim. Away games are still special to me, and many others. So let’s celebrate them.
I am publishing a book about the great adventures that we Gasheads / Pirates have as away fans, and I NEED YOUR MEMORIES, STORIES & PHOTOS.Simple as that. The highs, the lows, the loves, the arguments, the times we got lost, wet or hideously late, and also the times we lay on a terrace in the lovely Spring sun, made some great mates on the journey home, or found the finest beer known to humanity in a tiny little pub. Here are some of the details so far. All are liable to change. I have published 2 books before (doing literally every aspect of the process) and have sold 65,000 copies so far, plus 25,000 more via a US publisher. This is not meant to be a boast, but just to suggest that I do have a track record in producing decent books. I can’t guarantee everything at the moment, due to my home and financial circumstances, but I certainly want to do this and want to make it a success. I've come quite a long way so far and I'm not giving up now just because our players/manager/Board can't hit a banjo with a cows barn door... or whatever the phrase is. With your contributions we can do this! The basic idea = - A book written by Gasheads, for Gasheads (mainly).
- Available for the 2014 Christmas rush (call it cynical, but unfortunately this is the only time small publishers can make any sales really)
- Maybe some views of ex-players / staff as well. Someone out there can probably help me on this as I’m not the sort of person who is great with contacts and little black books.
Submissions & any questions can be sent to me by email – hello at awaythegas.org.ukOr message me if you prefer I see this as a ‘summer break’ type project to keep people busy when there is no footy, so it would be good if I can have submissions by 31st July 2014 at the latest.I’ve already had some good stories submitted, and a few excellent photos, so please don’t feel you need to wait until the end of July! thanks, Martin |
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Post by mehewmagic on Jun 10, 2014 0:43:00 GMT
Guidelines for Submissions
These are also available at www.awaythegas.org.uk, including a downloadable PDF version.- There are not many guidelines for the actual writing. It can be as short or as long as you wish. There is nothing wrong with just a few random memories. As long as they are funny, interesting, poignant etc. If it makes a good read to you then it might well be a good read for someone else. If you wish to organise your memories into themes, feel free to do it that way, e.g. journeys to matches, food & drink, victories, defeats, the weather, fancy dress, encounters with the nicest home fans (and even the occasional horrible ones), entertainment at matches, & your crazy mates. Your writings can also be several separate ‘submissions’. You aren’t forced to cram all your ideas into one pot boiling piece.
- The one thing I do ask (and will edit anyway!) is to keep this as a book that shows gasheads in a good light and a positive book you would be proud to show your kids, grandkids, next door neighbour, old Auntie Ethel etc. That doesn’t mean it has to be dreary, but equally I won’t publish boorish stories about sex, drugs and rock & rolling on the terraces. I’m genuinely not interested in footy violence, even if you have now reformed yourself and found God or whatever else allegedly helped you stop being an idiot. I don’t want to glorify any sexism, racism, swearing, violence etc. You can report it (as part of your stories), but please don’t dwell on it or glorify it, and please put it in a context of what you feel about it. To give you an example, my wife was racially abused at Gillingham by a lady who looked just like my auntie (my father was one of 12 so I have lots of aunties; all Wiltshire aunties look the same though…). It was hard to know what to do as I was so shocked by it, and hard to know what to say back to a 70 year old ‘adult’ who really should know better. It’s obviously hard to disguise my dislike of Gillingham due to this (and other issues) but I think that might make a good little positive point in a story.
- Photos - Please send any interesting photos, even ones that are not directly linked to your writings. Don’t worry too much about the quality of them. I am also a semi-professional photographer and I am firmly in the ‘substance not style’ camp when it comes to photos for books like this. If it makes me laugh I’ll probably include it. Or if it is poignant, historic or evocative.
To give you an example of silly photos, I have a photo I took on my mobile of a ‘sauce station’ at Doncaster Rovers (where the ketchup etc is kept). I also have one of a sign at Morecambe’s old ground that read ‘No unofficial ball games permitted in the stadium’. They both make me laugh. Now you know how my mind works. If it makes you laugh, or means something to you, it might well be of interest to readers. So go for it. - I take all the financial responsibility for it, and all the blame if anything goes wrong. Just like being the Chairman of a footy club.
- I am the editor of the book. I will do my best to accommodate requests, and in general I don’t want to mess around with your words much (see above guidelines though!), but the bottom line is that my word is final. Probably the most fundamental editing issue is the biggest one, which new contributors to books/ newsletters etc sometimes struggle to get their head around at first; namely, that editors don’t generally give the finished piece back to the original author for some sort of ‘approval‘. They also don’t edit it alongside the author, as if it is a truly democratic process. Unfortunately it isn’t. A book by committee would be almost impossible. I’ll let you do your job (write) and you let me do my job (edit/design/publish/publicise/sell).
- I can’t pay you, but rest assured I really don’t think I will make any money out of this. I usually donate a percentage of my book sales to charity (over £36,000 given away so far from my 2 books) so I will probably think of some worthwhile cause for this book as well.
- Contributors will receive at least 1 free copy. I prefer to give 3 free copies to any people who help me on my books, but if (as is likely) this book has LOTS of contributors and a small print run, it may well have to be just the 1. Many publishers unfortunately treat their contributors like dirt; never properly crediting them or even sending them a copy! Baring a mental breakdown I will never do anything like that.
- Help with publicity will probably be very welcome when the time comes. This could include a book launch, book signings, contacts at / suggestions for possible stockists, contacts within the club/local press, internet publicity, etc.
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,416 
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Post by harrybuckle on Jun 10, 2014 20:03:56 GMT
I must get writing about the trip to Reading THE 6-0 WIN
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Post by mehewmagic on Jun 11, 2014 20:07:48 GMT
I must get writing about the trip to Reading THE 6-0 WIN yes you should. I heard a bit of it on the radio in a cafe in bath, whilst having to take the missus shopping. i lead such an exciting life  |
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Post by mehewmagic on Jun 16, 2014 14:45:15 GMT
unashamed bump for people who haven't seen it yet...
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Post by mehewmagic on Jul 9, 2014 15:43:27 GMT
I'm getting a few more submissions but more memories needed please.
Don't have be long or overly 'professional'. I'm as easy as tramp after a few white lightnings.
I think I'll also do a 'questionnaire' for those who don;t want to write.
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jozer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 365
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Post by jozer on Jul 10, 2014 11:55:29 GMT
I could write up some memories of following Rovers up north in the late 1990's if you want? Nothing spectacular, just anecdotes about cars breaking down in the bloody Hymalayas, sitting on scaffolding at Maine Rd etc.
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Post by mehewmagic on Jul 10, 2014 15:47:57 GMT
I could write up some memories of following Rovers up north in the late 1990's if you want? Nothing spectacular, just anecdotes about cars breaking down in the bloody Hymalayas, sitting on scaffolding at Maine Rd etc. go for it mate. that's what the book is  cars buses and trains breaking down, bog rolls thrown out of trains, standing on a cold concrete terrace in your socks, going to the wrong ground, rubbish mascots, awful food, and the finest beer known to humanity  |
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garygas
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 26
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Post by garygas on Jul 10, 2014 16:23:13 GMT
Well a coach load of gasheads dressed as rolf Harris at wembley 1990 prob would of been a good story but then he went and ruined it. |
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garygas
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 26
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Post by garygas on Jul 10, 2014 16:38:40 GMT
Oh and of course the time I put nene park into the aa route planner got my directions set off to the game with my brother and a couple of friends only to find after a couple of hundred miles that nene park is not only the name of rushden and diamonds ground but a wild life reserve near Boston .
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,416
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Post by harrybuckle on Jul 10, 2014 20:01:00 GMT
sent mine by email the game at Reading 6-0 in 99
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Post by francegas on Jul 10, 2014 20:07:32 GMT
Sent mine by e-mail (let us know if you haven't received it as having problems with e-mails) Blackpool away bank holiday Monday April 2000
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Post by Bath Gas on Jul 10, 2014 20:51:54 GMT
Just sent mine by e-mail too.
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Post by bemmygas on Jul 12, 2014 6:05:00 GMT
Won't make the book. My first away game at the age of 6ish. Fulham away on the train 2-0 winners,with Carl Gilbert scoring both. Reason I can remember,went into a cafe with my Dad and he ordered me a cup of tea with string hanging out the side attached to a bag .we had a tea dispenser on the wall which put an amount in a pot. I had never seen anything like it,that's why it stays in my memory.anyone got any dates? About 1969..
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,416
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Post by harrybuckle on Jul 12, 2014 10:30:52 GMT
Did you get my email has not been acknowledged ?
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Post by Bamber Gashead on Jul 12, 2014 11:44:54 GMT
Won't make the book. My first away game at the age of 6ish. Fulham away on the train 2-0 winners,with Carl Gilbert scoring both. Reason I can remember,went into a cafe with my Dad and he ordered me a cup of tea with string hanging out the side attached to a bag .we had a tea dispenser on the wall which put an amount in a pot. I had never seen anything like it,that's why it stays in my memory.anyone got any dates? About 1969.. 21 Nov 1970 FA Cup 1st round. Result was actually 2-1. |
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Post by bemmygas on Jul 13, 2014 21:13:14 GMT
Bamber, thank you,only thing right was my age and we won.Dads long gone, but I'm still here.your club is for life.
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Post by gas4life on Jul 14, 2014 6:49:29 GMT
Emailed barnsley fa cup feb 1999
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Post by mehewmagic on Jul 14, 2014 23:23:46 GMT
Did you get my email has not been acknowledged ? yes. sorry mike. been a long, long weekend in our house |
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